Military equipment exhibition, sports competition concluded in Cambodian capital

PHNOM PENH, Jan. 14 (Xinhua) -- The three-day military equipment exhibition and sports competition came to an end here on Sunday, attracting tens of thousands of local visitors.

Military equipment, including helicopters, tanks, armored personnel carriers, rocket-launcher trucks, and artillery, were exhibited at the second annual event held at the Diamond Island complex.

At the event, there was also an army sports competition that took part by more than 500 soldier- and civilian-contestants. The competition included a 4-km commando run, a 50-kilo stretcher carrying race for 2 km, and a military-style obstacle course run.

Lieutenant General Hun Manet, a deputy commander of the Army Headquarters, said the event was to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Liberation Day.

"The event was also to commemorate our veterans who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the nation," he told reporters. "It was also to raise public awareness of the military and its role in defending the nation, and to increase friendship between the armed forces and the public."

Visitors said the exhibition gave them a chance to see military equipment with their own eyes and to make friends with soldiers.

"I'm excited to visit this exhibition, and I saw tanks, rocket-launcher trucks, and military helicopters for the first time," Ali, 29, told Xinhua.

"Previously, I only saw the military equipment on televisions, but now I can see them with my own eyes," she said. Enditem